Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1887-12-14
For the Smyrna Times
A Chapter Of Local History.
WILLIAM MCDOWELL AND REV. ALEX
ANDER CAMPBELL.

In the neighborhood of Capt. Allen
McLane Of Duck Creek Cross Roads,
lived James Mcdowell.
They were both MethOdists and en-
gagged in founding the Methodist Epis-
copal church in said village. In the
mean time Mr.. Mcdowell became a
widower. Mrs. McLane had a niece, |
Miss Skeleton, who in the course of |
time received the addresses of Mr.. |
Mcdowell, and became his second wife. |
They had several children, and one
called William" was very talented,
with whom, in after years the writer
became acquainted, while engaged in
Sabbath school work. She thinks if
he had been educated as the McLanes
were, he would have been equal to
LeWis, who was the most prominent
member of the family.
In 1926 the Rev. Mr.. Campbell, ofthe
Baltimore Presbytery, was sent to take
charge of che Presbyterian congrega-
! ton in Smyrna, whose regular place of
worship was at the antiquated church
on the hill, near Paterson's mill pond.
Sometimes they preached in Smyrna
in the afternoon, in the school house
where our Sunday school was taught.
One afternoon while Mr.. Campbell was
preaching he gave vent to the follow
ing extraordinary expressions. He
said that we were $50 ignorant here,
that we could not tell whether it was
Jesus Christ, or Judas IscdriOt that was
cruciied, 80 or whether the Jewish
Captivity was before or since the flood, :"
that our spiritual atmosphere was as
dark as the smoke which ascends from
the bOttomless pitt,
Mr. Mcdowell wrote an article and
published it in the newspapers against
Mr.. Campbell's exaggerated statements
of our spiritual atmosphere in this sec
ton. Mr.. Campbell thu eatened law
2 suit, which induced Mr.. Mcdowell to
! look up witnesses to prove what the
l preacher had said in his abusive dis
| course.
/, During the excitement that prevail
= ed here, I received the following lettel
:, from Mr.. Mcdowell:
= Miss Sarah Patterson
u Much Inc has elapsed since l rea(
"Rollin's Ancient History" l recollect
/, circumstance recorded in that work. but il
e which volume l cannot tell. As l hav
9 been inquiring for the work l learned tina
, you have it, and have made some notes. !
y you can give me the name Ofthe individual
. with his nation and people with whom hi
l. nation was then at war, l will be much oblig
r. ed to you.
n The circumstance was this: An indiviC
ual, who determined to signaliZe himself &
,r a Fool, singled out the largest and MOS
= gorgeOusly arrayed elephant, because
i supposed the King to be the rider II
TO made his way through the hosts up to tn
elephant, and plunged his poignard IN h
le | heart. The elephant fell and crushed b
destroyer. l want the name of the hero
"a this gallant exploit as l think one of h
- descendants has been among us. If yC
e could furnish it, l should be pleased, all
to get the name of the hero who fired Il
temple of Il think Diana.
~ Very respectfully
Yours most obt.,
VIM. Mcdowell.
n Smyrna DEL, March 2Gth 1926,
Gu The writer gave Mr.. Mcdowell q
Ell the information she possessed, and r
ne vived his spirits by offering to be
Us witness against Mr.. Campbell, whit
le- several who had heard the discOur
refused to do.
M The collegiate education, and gigd
ed tic proportions of the preacher avail,
n m him nothing in the newspaper warfa
W. that was carried on and he ma
IRE haste to get away without saying goo
eI- bye.
ers He went out West and settled thel
no | have often wondered If he was t
llh founder of the sect called Campbellit
ny of which President Garfield was
re preacher. Mr.. Campbell was the Ii
lld preacher that Officated in the old fas
ON toned church. Some years after
OF members took it down, and purchas
TO the church now occupied by the Rom
MS Catholics SARAH p. MASON
my Smyrna, DEL, December 8th, 1887.
rise -.